Shelbourne give all

IN HIS programme notes for this game Shelbourne manager, Damien Richardson made the point that when you've had bigger things on your mind up to a couple of weeks before a game it can be hard to get a team to raise their performance for their last home appearance of the season.

The visit of Steve Cotterill's Sligo side rarely affords the opportunity for a sleepy performance, though, and last night a game at Tolka Park that may turn out to have decided the destination of a spot in the UEFA Cup was played from beginning to end as if a few of the players' lives depended on the outcome.

A few lives might certainly have been lost during the contest for, while Rovers can play some much better football going forward than they are generally given credit for, their approach, at the back can be basic, bordering on the belligerent.

It was Shelbourne, however, who were the more fortunate in their dealings with referee Dick O'Hanlon in the early exchanges as the man-in-the-middle waved play on when a penalty looked more appropriate on no fewer than three occasions.

Admittedly by the time even the first of them came to pass the home side were already in front after Mark Rutherford had darted, down the left and cut the ball low inside for Stephen Geoghegan, who showed admirable composure as he slotted home his 19th league goal of the season.

Dave Tilson, Ray Duffy and Rutherford all then went close to gifting a spot kick to Rovers over the following 12 minutes. If all three were fortunate to get away with what looked to be unfair challenges in the area Rutherford, certainly, was by the end mores sinned against than sinning with the tricky winger punished for his speed with a succession of appalling challenges.

With Greg Costello, Tony Sheridan and Declan Geoghegan all unavailable the home side missed some of their usual wide options, and Dave Tilson and Gary Howlett, both of whom eventually limped out of the proceedings, played, well below their best.

The locals nevertheless managed to push the ball around well as they moved into their opponents half and, after goalkeeper Alan Gough kept them in front with a fine stop from a close-range header by Steve Berks, they, doubled their lead on the stroke of half time as Rutherford's corner found John O'Rourke in space at the far post.

Overall, though, Gough was not having one of his happier nights, and within two minutes of the restart Berks had pressured him into an error for which Ian Gilzean made him pay by driving the loose ball home from just a couple of yards.